Lightning crash near Bredasdorp, Western Cape

[aerovet]

Apparently, one of Thunder City's Lightnings has crashed during an airshow at Bredasdorp, this morning....

From Aviation Safety.net:

Date: 14-NOV-2009
Time: 12:15
Type: English Electric Lightning
Operator: Thunder City
Registration: ZU-B??
C/n / msn:
Fatalities: Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1
Other fatalities: 0
Airplane damage: Written off (damaged beyond repair)
Location: Overberg Air Force Base, Bredasdorp, Western Cape - South Africa
Phase: Manoeuvring (airshow, firefighting, ag.ops.)
Nature: Demo/Airshow/Display
Departure airport: FAOB (AFB Overberg)
Destination airport: FAOB (AFB Overberg)
Narrative:
During an air display at the annual Overberg Air Force Base fly-in, the Lightning apparently suffered hydraulic problems. While burning off fuel, it crashed in a ball of flame starting a veld fire 5km north of the field. At the time of writing there were conflicting reports regarding an ejection, but there were apparently three failed attempts to eject. It would appear from reports just in, that the pilot was not able to eject.

The air show was stopped and spectators were requested to switch off their cell phones.

Both pilot and passenger seem to have lost their lives..............

Aerovet

[phantom]

ZU-BEX

[RobertMB]

Very sad news.....

Sadly display pilot Dave Stock was tragically killed. (After 3 attemps to activate his ejection seat without any result he didn't survive...). The involved aircraft indeed confirmed as Lightning T Mk5 ZU-BEX (c/n 95011, ex G-LTNG, XS451).

NO 2nd person was aboard the dual-seat Lightning when the crash happened....

BR,

Robert

[stipjes]

Very sad news.....

Sadly display pilot Dave Stock was tragically killed. .

I took a pick of the XS451 a year earlier. Dave was a pilot that day in one of the flying planes;